Rawalpindi cries for water

RAWALPINDI - Hundreds of residents of UC Dhama Syedan took to streets and roads protesting against acute water shortage here on Saturday.The main violent protest erupted at ground of Jamia Masjid Gulzar-e-Madina after the residents of Mumtaz Market, Sadiq Town, Ali Town, Dhoke Haji Niaz Ali, Khatana, Kalhoor, Ziarat Baba Shahmur, Dhoke Lal Shah and Christian Colony claimed that they had had enough with the water crises. They said that the authorities concerned dropped water bills in their house every month but not supplying water.The protestors were holding placards and chanting slogans against Federal Minister for Interior and MNA NA-52 Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, MPA Chaudhry Sarfraz Afzal and former N league Nazim UC Dhama Syedan Chaudhry Muhammad Ilyas.They demanded Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Shahbaz Sharif to pay a surprise visit to see the maladies of people of UC Dhama Syedan. A water supply scheme was launched by Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who bagged seven consecutive wins in the area, during 2008 electioneering which was later inaugurated by the stalwart of N league with cost of millions of rupees. However, local leadership of ruling party doled out connections between their near and dear ones, sources added.A huge water tank was built on Chungi Number 20 which was also leaking because of rusty pipelines and cracked walls.Malik Muhammad Nawaz, a local, said that they have been facing a severe water shortage for last many months. He said that the residents of areas were being forced to buy water tankers at very high prices to cater their daily needs of water. He said that MNA Chaudhry Nisar had gained votes in the name of water supply scheme but now he was not taking notice of the issue despite several requests."PML-N government and local leaders are fully aware of water shortage but they are not solving issue" said Hammad Kiyani, a student, adding that "We need water on every cost. We will block Adyala Road if the government and local leader will not pay heed towards the lingering issue”.Jibran Kiyani, Nabil Munawar, Papu Khan, Chaudhry Numan and many others said that the walls and pipelines of water tank made of a hill top have damaged owing to which water was leaking round the clock. The water also inundated on Adyala Road and entered in shops and houses located in low laying areas.The area residents asked the government to solve their problems or else they would against agitate on August 22 (Friday) and block Adyala Road.MPA Chaudhry Sarfraz Afzal, ex-Nazim Chaudhry Muhammad Ilyas and Sub Engineer of Public Health Department could not be reached for comments.